RM110mil still needed to implement ALAF Phase 5 initiative

KUCHING: A total of RM110 million is still needed to implement the fifth phase of the Sarawak government’s Additional Late Applicant Fund (ALAF) initiative.

Utility and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi said Sarawak has provided a total of RM315 million, with the fourth phase of implementation now in the completion process.

“That being said, I hope the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW) could provide some fund to the state government in order to implement the fifth phase of the ALAF initiative.

“I have discussed with my fellow staff at the Ministry, alongside Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) through Sesco, that the application for the ALAF initiative will be through the queue system,” he said.

He said this when met by reporters after officiating the Phase Two of the Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrifiation Scheme (SARES) project handover here on Monday (Sept 30).

Julaihi added that while the budget for the phase of ALAF initiative is RM110 million, any additional allocation from the KKDW would be welcomed as well.

“However, there is also a challenge in implementing the ALAF initiative. For example, in terms of technical workers.

“We need more competent workers on the ground in order to do so.

“Each contractor must have their own respective team. So if could have at least two contractors, then we would have two teams on the ground,” he added.

He also hoped that the ministry, SEB and Centre for Technical Excellence (Centex) would collaborate together in order to develop more workers to implement the project. Also present during the ceremony were Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang, Sesco chief executive officer Lau Kim Swee and other guests.